Elsie shares her journey with NSA
One of our earliest supporters reflects on her life and membership of National Seniors Australia.
50 years, 50 lives
In the lead-up to National Seniors Australia’s 50th anniversary in 2026, Connect is sharing the stories of 50 people who have made contributions to the organisation over those years.
Elsie Debney, a cherished long-time member of National Seniors Australia (NSA), has been involved with the organisation “since the year dot”, dating back to its early days when it was known as Later Years.
Her journey with NSA, and indeed her life, offers a fascinating glimpse into community spirit both in Brisbane, where she now lives, and the rugged Outback, where she grew up.
Elsie recalls her experiences with Later Years with great fondness, describing it as a “wonderful” time. She initially attended meetings in inner-city Fortitude Valley (just “the Valley” to Brisbane people), which was a local hub for her and her friends.
It was a vibrant social scene, featuring activities ranging from singing along to her favourite songs played on the piano to fashion parades, where local dress shops provided outfits and group members acted as models.
She said most of the attendees back then were women, although there were occasionally a few men at the meetings.
A significant part of the attraction for Elsie was the social connection NSA meetings offered for her and her longtime friend and neighbour, Joan Tucker, who has since passed away.
“It was wonderful,” Elsie says of the social aspect, noting that the club provided a vital opportunity to meet new people and engage in activities.
Among the highlights were regular bus trips where members would gather in the Valley and set off on fun trips to the Gold Coast or “up the mountains”.
Elsie’s involvement with NSA stretches back almost as far as Later Years’ beginnings in Brisbane in 1976. Her own beginnings, though, were far from the big smoke.
Elsie was born and grew up way out west on her family’s cattle property not far from the Queensland-South Australia border. The nearest town, Jundah, was a long drive away.
It was a large family, with Elsie, who was born in 1931, being the second youngest of nine children – five girls and four boys, two of whom served in the Second World War.
Life on the property was hands-on and demanding. The older boys in the family played a crucial role, undertaking stock work for their father as soon as they were old enough to ride.
Elsie remembers it as a “good, healthy life”, although the fun ended when she was “packed off” to boarding school in Toowoomba.
Nevertheless, she eventually found her way to Brisbane, becoming a mainstay of NSA from its early years through to her more recent connection with the Coorparoo branch.
As one of NSA’s longest-serving members, she was also an attendee at last year’s gala for the presentation of the inaugural Everald Compton Community Champion Medal.
Today, we toast Elsie and the many other members who have helped build this organisation that not only gives older Australians a voice but helps connect people from across this big country.
